Blair convenes Cobra team as crisis in Iran escalates

scotsman.com ^ | 25th March 2007 | BRIAN BRADY

[thomas16]

Maybe to avoid an escalation and war

[L,TOWM]

The response to the inquiry, which had been immediately patched through to Ministry of Defence headquarters in Whitehall, was to hold fire.

They really stepped on it, did'nt they?

[Dog]

Guennie we are all wondering why.

[thomas16]

Are you for real, you obviously want world war 3, you mustn't have children that would be eligible for draft in a few years. I just love all this chest pounding.

[Glenn]

you obviously want world war 3

You're a real drama queen, aren't you?

Get those emotions in check before you hurt yourself.

[opticks]

"Send in Commander Bond, Miss Moneypenney."

If that were only possible.

[Alas Babylon!]

As the crew members were surrounded in their two rubber dinghies, the Cornwall's commander, Commodore Nick Lambert, frantically radioed back to his own top brass for instructions.

The response to the inquiry, which had been immediately patched through to Ministry of Defence headquarters in Whitehall, was to hold fire.

The order to show restraint has been observed throughout the forces and the British government in the 48 hours since, but it is unclear how long both sides will be able to maintain control.

How can they say such a thing?

To the British press and government: "Both sides maintain control"???? The Iranians took control of your mates! They broke that restraint from the very beginning!!! Your skipper stood by and passed the buck (I'm sure under orders) upstaris when while he watched his own men be attacked! Your higher ups let it be so. Now you want to spend perhaps millions of pounds convening government resources to "confront" the Iranians?

I'm sorry, but the timne to confront them was when the whole thing started. HMS Cornwall could have, should have stopped it then!

[MrLee]

"We and GB are both playing a game with Iran that we can't win because they are following the rules of the low road and we are taking the high road. Sometimes you just have to drop some bombs to make a point like Ronnie did with Libya."

We don't have a "Ronnie" around today to lead us........

[BuffaloJack]

No need for bombs. Bombs may leave civilian casualties for the MSM to whine about. Iran has a navy. Start sinking it.

[toddlintown]

Sure, sure. Let's establish a dialogue./s

[AD from SpringBay]

The Cobra team? Aren't those the guys who wear the blue spandex and run around shouting 'COBRA!', all the while randomly shooting their guns? He should call the G.I. Joe team instead. They are much more effective.

[AD from SpringBay]

But seriously - England is a member of NATO. Does that mean anything?

[maquiladora]

To be honest I cannot see this escalating much further. There will probably be some humiliating mock trial/confession for the media to boost internal morale in Iran, then they will be released.

There isn't a snowsball chance of the UK or US launching a operation to rescue them, as they've probably been seperated and are being held in various unknown bases in the capital. Plus, there is no political will to issue a military ultimatum.

The Iranian's will maximise the potential from the propaganda then claim the moral victory by eventually releasing them.

[rollo tomasi]

What should the West do if Iran calls our bluff and executes these fine sailors as a show of force?

Throw a State funeral (If the bodies are even returned) and continue to smile and talk to Iran and "her allies".

[Glenn]

The Iranian's will maximise the potential from the propaganda then claim the moral victory by eventually releasing them.

Well, if that's all this is about, no big deal, eh?

[rollo tomasi]

Right now it's a game of diplomacy but if harm comes to the prisoners it will be telling what the response is.

[reefdiver]

I wonder how Mrs. Bill would handle this

[pleikumud]

thomas16 sounds like a Democrat = defeatist, afraid

[omega4179]

Iran doesn't have what it takes to start a world war we would end them in a week just like all the rest.

[bw17]

A military confrontation with Iran is just about an absolute certainty. Wouldn't it be better to fight them now while we have the upper hand, rather than fight them a decade from now when they have nukes, and we no longer have a comparative advantage?